Network assurance is a vital aspect in the world of technology. This refers to analyzing network paths and application connectivity from just about any source and toward any destination, detailing devices and rules along the way. Having said this, technology companies like Cisco are spearheading efforts to ensure network assurance is at its best, such as with its recent acquisition.
Cisco acquires SamKnows
Cisco recently announced its acquisition of SamKnows, a London-based company that utilizes a global network of software agents situated in everything from home systems to mobile devices and service provider networks to obtain a real-time measurement not just of Internet performance but also customer experience.
Founded in 2008, SamKnows has been working together with government institutions, consumers, Internet service providers, manufacturers, and academics, among many others, to measure fixed and mobile broadband with the goal of helping enhance global Internet performance.
“With the addition of SamKnows’ millions of vantage points into the last mile, customers now have a single source of truth for how the Internet is performing across their entire infrastructure, including home and mobile device networks,” Cisco said in its official statement. “Whether for hybrid work or consumer application delivery, optimizing and improving internet performance for everyone is just a click away.”
SamKnows’ technology is slated to get integrated with ThousandEyes, a network intelligence company Cisco bought in 2020. ThousandEyes produces software capable of analyzing the performance of local and wide area networks.
“I am very excited to announce that SamKnows will be joining Cisco, the world leader in networking. Specifically, we will be joining the Cisco ThousandEyes team, which empowers leading organizations worldwide to see, understand, and improve connected experiences everywhere,” said SamKnows chief executive officer Alex Salter in the company’s news release.
More efforts to strengthen network assurance
This is not the only effort Cisco has made to bolster network and Internet monitoring capabilities. Last week, Cisco also announced its acquisition of Accedian, a Canada-based company that develops network communication and application monitoring hardware and software.
“Accedian was born in the heart of the world’s largest and most complex networks,” Accedian’s CEO, Dion Joannou, said. “… We look forward to bringing our critical capabilities to a wider set of solutions within Cisco’s Networking portfolio and taking the next step in the partnership we have built with Cisco and our joint customers over the last years.”
SamKnows and Accedian are set to join forces with Cisco’s ThousandEyes team to help increase the amount of information Cisco has about monitoring and comprehending network health in a broader way.
Mohit Lad, ThousandEyes’ CEO and co-founder, shared in the company’s official news release how SamKnows provides broad visibility and rich insight into the broadband networks of consumers, enabling network operators to see and enhance network performance and applications for their clients.
“Ensuring end-to-end connectivity from home environments is now essential for enterprises supporting remote employees, application providers reaching users, and broadband providers maintaining customer satisfaction,” Lad added.
